Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-09
THE COMMANDMENTS.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY 8. T.
cURTlss, PHI. D., y. D.

Golden Text, Mat. xii, 81.
Mount Sinai-eur lesson introduces us to
one of the grandest and most solemn scenes
Of human history. In the third month after
Israel had left Egypt they had reached the
wilderness of Sinai (Ex. xix, q, which is now
commonly believed on the best authority to
have been the plain of Er Rahah. On the
third day after their arrival, as we may sup
pose, the people were gathered on this plain
Tvs. 16, IN, which was two miles long by half
mile broad, before Ras Sufsafeh, which is
included under the term Jebel Musa (moun-
tain Of Moses. They stand awe struck before
the majestic displays of the divine power.
The mountain is enveloped in thick smoke
There are thunderings and ightnings A
trumpet sounds. The mountain itself is
shaken, while the people tremble with fear.
These displays are designed to impress them
with the divine holiness and the majesty Of
the law which they are soon to hear.
THE LESSON.
The Author of the Commandments Tvs. 1, q.
The thought expressed is that God is the
author of the commandments which follow
and of the exact words contained in them
he introduces himself by what might be
called his proper name: 81 am Jehovah thy.
God" Other Senites might speak of their
gods as Elohim, but we have good reason for
believing that only the Israelites called him
Jehovah lex. vi, 8, Revised Version). God
proclaims two facts: 1. That he brought
Israel out from Egypt; 2 That he brought
them out of the house Of bondage. Israel
could not have escaped from Egypt or have
broken the yoke of servitude by their own
power. 1t was only by means of the ten
plaques that they were enabled to cut loose
from their masters Ex. vii, A.. In another
place (Ex. xix, s. God tells his people how be
had borne them on eagles wings. Just as
the mother bird who is training the eaglet to
fly supports IL when it is weary, so God had
borne Israel Compare Duet. xxi, IL
The First Commandment ". SIN the
first commandment God tells his people that
they were to have no other gods beside
him (Revised Version, margin). This COM
mand was necessary on account Of the ex-
ample Of all nations that were around them,
who had numerous deities, and on account of
the tendencies of the Israelites themselves to
idolatry. The ancestors of Abraham in their
home, Ur Of the Chaldees, were idolators ac-
cording to the clear testimony of scripture
Josh. xiv, q. Jacob had to be at pains to root
idolatry out of his family (Gen. xxxv, q; and
itappears that the Israelites were idolators
In Egypt Josh. xiv, IA, Is; Eek xx, $40.
Until after the Babylonian captivity this was
the greatest temptation to which Gods people
were exposed and under which they often
fell; hence the Importance of this command
The Second Commandment Tvs. 46.-The
second commandment Is directed against the
making of images. Here carved images are
specified, although the Hebrew word pa-sel
aIc iuol1Iaz
mold. All kinds Of image making then are
excluded. They were not to make the like
ness of any form that is in heaven above.
One of the EgyPtinn dcities was Fls, the sun.
They and the ancient Chaldeans worshiped
the moongod. The sacred writers found it
necessary to warn Israel against the worship
of the sun and moon and all the host of
heaven, as the stars Deut iv, 10; II Kings
xiii, s..
Many of the idols were representations Of
animals Such was the case among the Egyp-
tians, who had their sacred bulls, and even
csts-not TO speak of other animals-to
which they rendered divine honors Even
the sea furnished objects Of worship to some
peoples, In the shape Of animals either real or
imaginary.
God exhibits both sides of his character in
the second commandment. We read in the
New Testament that God is love q John iv,
16). The Old Testament really reveals him
In the same character Ex. Uxiv, 81. But
chat love is turned into jealousy when he sees
his covenant people Israel leaving him for
the idols of the heathen. He Is represented
as visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children unto the third and fourth gen.
Grafton Of those who hate him. In doing this
be simply allows the children to suffer the
consequences Of the sins of their parents.
This is g natural law whose working could
not be changed without miracle. Children
now suffer for the sins of their parents. They
suffer in reputation. The child Of the gam
bier, the drunkard, the fallen, has an inner
itance Of shame, and too often sees the finger
Of scorn pointed at him. They suffer in
health. Some are born with an Unsuitable
thirst for drink, others with ruined constitu-
tions, others with the marks Of infamy in
their faces, because Of the transgression Of
their parents. God in visiting punishment
upon the children of idolaters unto the third
and fourth generation simply does not change
the laws Of nature. The souls of multitudes
Of Sandwich Islanders have been redeemed
whose bodies are suffering by reason of the
Sins Of their idolatrous ancestors.
On the other side God shows mercy unto
q thousand generations Revised Version,
margin) Of those that love him and keep his
commandments. There is no better inherit
ance than to be a child of godly parents.
The Third Commandment ". 0.-The third
commandment is directed against profanity
and false swearing. Thou shalt not lift up
[utterl the name Of Jehovah thy God for
vanity" Ito no purpose, or a liel 1t is right
to speak the name Of God in prayer, or song,
or solemn discourse, on in the oaths required
by law. But il Gods name is used thought
lessly, or In false statements made by wit
nesses, punishment will surely follow-if not
In this world, in that which is to come.
The Fourth Commandment Tvs S-11).-His-
torical research shows that the Sabbath was
not original with the Hebrews. The Assyri-
ans had the sevenfold division of time. God,
however, first instituted the Sabbath (Gen. H.
2-S. It is indeed strange thing that the
one command which some mer now say is no
longer binding should be singled out by God
as the very one that we are to remember.
Man says, "Forget the Sabbath day." God
says, "Remember the Sabbath day. Sab
bath means rest. Some think that their duty
is performed If they rest their bodies from
toll, and perhaps their minds; but the
very purpose Of remembering the day is that
~ Oc AcPb hOA1 bA&db tkldt III Do
set apart from common to sacred uses. All
work is to be done in six days. Not only all
the members of the family are to enjoy q
season OF rest, including the servants, but
even the beasts of burden are to have repose
from toll.
The reason for the observance of the Sab
bath day is that after the creation of the
heavens and the earth, which occupied six
divine days, God rested ON the seventh day
and hallowed ID. In the Revised Ve sion we
read ". 10, @but the seventh day is sab
bath unto the Lord thy God' This Is an
accurate rendering Of the Hebrew, and indi-
Gates that other seasons were TO be considered &.
as Sabbaths, as, for instance, the seventh
year Nev. XIV, a.
Remark.-The question is raised why the
great majority OF the Christian world observe
the first day Of the week instead Of the
seventh. The reason OF this Is that in the
early history Of the church among Jewish
Christians the seventh day was observed in
commemoration Of the creation, and the first
day Of the week in celebration Of the resur-
rection of Jesus Christ Compare Acts xx,
q; Cor. xvi, 9; Rev. /, 10.l As the latter
seemed to be the greater event, 1t crowded
out the observance Of the seventh day This
Is certainly according to the spirit Of the New